Buttressed offset rim drum end closure



NOV. 29, 1966 Q 'HNKER BUTTRESSED OFFSET RIM DRUM END CLOSURE Filed Dec. 18, 1964 INVENTOR OSCAR A. TINKER rlllnllil1 .llllll. l1

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,288,342 BUTTRESSED OFFSET RIM DRUM END CLGSURE Oscar A. Tinker, Van Wert, Ulric, assignor to Continental Can Company, Inc, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Dec. 18, 1964, Ser. No. 419,532 3 Claims. (Cl. 2295.6)

This invention relates to an end closure and more particularly to a buttressed offset rim end closure for a fibre (grease drum and the like.

It is known to provide a fibre drum with a slip-over metal end closure including a skirt portion for embracing and closing either the top or bottom open end of the drum. Various types of means have been provided for securing the end closure to the drum, many of which have been so constructed or of such a fragile nature as to be readily mutilated or distorted in shipment or handling.

The preferred embodiment of my invention contemplates the provision of an end closure which is adapted for application to the tubular body portion of a drum or container constructed of fibreboard, strawboard or pulpboard. The end closure is preferbaly formed in one piece with a circular end panel and with an an nular skirt which is connected to the circular end panel by a grooved formation which provides an annular channel designed to receive the end of the tubular body portion of the drum in such a way as to effect a reinforced necked-in drum heading or end closure.

Another object of this invention is to provide an end closure for a tubular drum and the like, the end closure comprising a skirt, an inner wall panel connected to the skirt and spaced adjacent thereto by a first bight portion to define an annular channel between the inner wall panel and the skirt, an inner flange panel disposed adjacent to and connected to the inner wall panel by a second bight portion, and an end panel connected to the inner flange panel.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and novel combination of an end closure and a tubular drum having an open end thereof closed by the end closure, the end closure comprising a skirt, an inner wall panel connected to the skirt and spaced adjacent thereto by a first bight portion to define an annular channel between the inner wall panel and the skirt. The tubular drum having an end portion disposed within the annular channel, the end portion being snugly gripped between the skirt and the inner wall panel to fixedly secure the end closure thereto; the improvement comprising an inner flange panel disposed contiguous to and connected with the inner wall panel by a second bight portion whereby the inner flange panel reinforces the load bearing capabilities of the skirt and the inner wall panel.

Another object of this invention is to provide such an end closure wherein the inner flange panel terminates at an inwardly directed chuck panel and is connected to an end panel by the chuck panel, a portion of the skirt and the inner wall panel being off-set inwardly to dispose the inner wall panel in engagement with the inner flange panel to provide the end closure and tubular drum with a reinforced neck-in portion.

A further object of this invention is to provide an end closure of the type described above which is further characterized in that the end panel is provided with an annular rib and an annular recess disposed inwardly of the chuck panel to provide for interfitting engagement between the end closure and a complementary end closure on an adjacent drum, thus providing for stable stacking of a plurality of drums.

Patented Nov. 29, 1966 "ice With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claimed subject matter and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the novel end closure as being connected to a lower end portion of a conventional fibre drum.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary vertical section and illustrates the configuration of the novel end closure prior to being assembled upon an end portion of a fibre drum.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical section illustrating the end closure as being securely fastened upon an end portion of a drum, and further illustrates the manner in which the novel end closure cooperatively interfits with a conventional top end closure on a subjacent drum.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary section-a1 view illustrating a modified form of end closure which is provided with an annular rib and an annular recess to increase the strength of the end panel and to provide for stable interfitting engagement between the end closure and a complementary end closure on a subjacent drum.

Referring to the drawing in detail, FIGURE 1 illustrates a novel end closure or heading, generally indicated by the numeral 10, as being applied to a lower end portion of a conventional fibre drum body 11.

The end closure 10 comprises an annular skirt 12 which is provided with an outwardly turned rein-forcing curl 13 which precludes injury by eliminating any sharp edge and also provides strength for the end closure 10.

FIGURE 2 illustrates the configuration of the end closure 10 prior to a shaping operation which secures the end closure 10 to an end portion 14 of the tubular drum body 11. As is shown, the annular skirt 12 extends downwardly from the curl 13 and terminates at a first bight portion 16 which connects the annular skirt 12 to an upwardly extending inner wall panel 17 disposed adjacent to and spaced inwardly from the annular skirt 12 so as to define an annular channel 18 which is adapted to receive the end portion 14 of the drum body 11.

The inner wall panel 17 merges at its upper end portion with a second bight portion 20 which connects the inner wall panel 17 to an inner flange panel 22 which extends downwardly and inwardly from the bight portion 20 and merges with a horizontally disposed chuck panel 23. An inclined wall portion 25 extends upwardly and inwardly from the chuck panel 23 and terminates in a circular recessed end panel 27.

The heading or end closure 10, as produced in the heading die during a conventional stamping operation, is preferably shaped such that the inner flange panel 22 includes an inwardly offset portion 30 which defines an are having a center of curvature 31 located outwardly from the annular skirt 12. After the end portion 14 of the drum body 11 is assembled into the annular channel 18, a subsequent die operation forces the skirt 12 and inner wall panel 17 inwardly such that the inner wall panel 17 is brought into engagement with the inner flange panel 22, thus creating a reinforced or buttressed neckedin rim portion 35, as is best shown in FIGURE 3. As is well understood in the art, the end portion 14 of the drum body 11 is snugly engaged between the lowermost portion of the skirt 12 and the upstanding wall panel 17 to fixedly secure the end closure 10 to the drum body 11. Provision of the inner flange panel 22 substantially reinforces the wall panel 17 and the rim portion 35 so as to provide an end closure which is stronger than those previously known in the art.

FIGURE 3 illustrates the end closure as being seated upon a subjacent drum body 50 which includes a conventional top cover member 51 which includes a recessed panel 52 and an upwardly offset rim 53. The rim 53 is engaged by the rim portion 35 of the end closure 10 while the end panel 27 thereof rests upon a central portion of the cover 51 such that the inclined wall panel and the rim portion provide an effective interlocking and stacking feature between the uppermost and subjacent drums.

FIGURE 4 illustrates a modified form of heading or end closure, generally indicated by the numeral 60, which is quite similar to the above-disclosed end closure 10. Much of the structure of the end closure 60 is similar to corresponding structure of the end closure 10, and for simplicity, like numerals are used for like structure. The end closure 60 differs from the end closure 10 by the provision of at least one upstanding annular rib 61 and a downwardly projecting annular rib 62 so as to provide an annular recess 63 adjacent to the inclined wall panel 25. The annular ribs 61 and 62 materially increase the strength and stability of the end panel 27 while the annular recess 63 provides for interfitting engagement between the end closure 60 and a complementary end closure 70 on a subjacent drum (not shown).

The fibre drum body 11 is preferably provided with a liner 75, e.g., one formed of polyethylene or the like, for preventing liquid or semi-liquid products from being absorbed by the drum body.

Also, in order to achieve a liquid-tight bottom juncture, a conventional sealing compound 76 is placed in channel 18 prior to the insertion of the end portion 14 into the channel. Hence, the end portion 14 is embedded in the sealing compound 76 which not only seals 011 any possibility of leakage at this point but the sealing compound 76 also serves as an adhesive to securely attach the fibre drum body 11 to the heading 10, thus supplementing the mechanical bond.

It is obvious that while the reinforcing curl or bead 13 is illustrated as being an outwardly turned, rounded curl, a flattened hem may be provided in lieu thereof.

While preferred forms and arrangement of parts have been shown in illustrating the invention, it is to be clearly understood that various changes in details and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claimed subject matter.

I claim:

1. An end closure for a tubular drum and the like, said end closure comprising a vertical skirt, an inner wall panel connected to said skirt and spaced adjacent thereto by a first bight portion to define an upward opening annular channel between said inner wall panel and said skirt, said inner wall panel being disposed substantially parallel to said skirt along the entire length of said inner Wall panel, an inner flange panel disposed adjacent to and connected to said inner wall panel by a second bight portion, said inner flange panel extending downwardly and inwardly from said second Fbight portion to define a downwardly opening channel and terminating at an inwardly directed chuck panel and being connected to an end panel by said chuck panel.

2. The combination of an end closure and a tubular drum having an open end thereof closed by said end closure, said end closure comprising a skirt, an inner wall panel connected to said skirt and spaced adjacent thereto by a first bight portion to define an annular channel between said inner Wall panel and said skirt, said inner wall panel extending upwardly and outwardly from said first bight portion, said tubular drum having an end portion disposed within said annular channel, said end portion being snugly gripped between said skirt and said inner Wall panel to fixedly secure said end closure thereto; the improvement comprising an inner flange panel disposed contiguous to and connected with said inner wall panel by a second bight portion, said inner flange panel extending downwardly and inwardly from said second bight portion and terminating at an inwardly directed chuck panel and being connected to an end panel by said chuck panel, said chuck panel being disposed substantially horizontally and substantially tangential to said first bight portion, a portion of said skirt and said inner wall panel being ofiset inwardly to dispose said inner wall panel in engagement with said inner flange panel to provide said end closure and tubular drum with a reinforced necked-in rim portion.

3. The combination asdefined in claim 2 further characterized in that said end panel is provided with an annular rib and an annular recess disposed inwardly of said chuck panel to provide for interfitting engagement between said end closure and a complementary end closure on an adjacent drum.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,934,762 11/1933 Eggress 2295.6 2,290,749 7/1942 Hildebrandt 229-5.8 X 2,305,705 12/ 1942 Hendrickson 229-56 2,306,255 12/1942 Scott 2295.5 2,325,922 8/1943 Sebell 2925.6 X 2,767,899 10/1956 Brown 229-56 JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner. D. T. MOORHEAD, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN END CLOSURE FOR A TUBULAR DRUM AND THE LIKE, SAID END CLOSURE COMPRISING A VERTICAL SKIRT, AN INNER WALL PANEL CONNECTED TO SAID SKIRT AND SPACED ADJACENT THERETO BY A FIRST BIGHT PORTION TO DEFINE AN UPWARD OPENING ANNULAR CHANNEL BETWEEN SAID INNER WALL PANEL AND SAID SKIRT, SAID INNER WALL PANEL BEING DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO SAID SKIRT ALONG THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF SAID INNER WALL PANEL, AN INNER FLANGE PANEL DISPOSED ADJACENT TO AND CONNECTED TO SAID INNER WALL PANEL BY A SECOND BIGHT PORTION, SAID INNER FLANGE PANEL EXTENDING DOWN WARDLY AND INWARLY FROM SAID SECOND BIGHT PORTION TO 